Summer 2015 is quickly approaching! Though we all have busy summers filled with internships and camp, let’s not forget that there will be plenty of down time, rain days, and evenings to fill with activities. For moments like these, I’ve compiled a list of the top ten movies I think everyone should see. The movies were selected from a long list of possible choices but were picked based on the plot line, directors/producers, and actors.
10. Paper Towns, July 24th, Directed by Jake Schreier, Written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
If you’re a fangirl of the John Green persuasion, there is no way you can miss this movie. Margo Roth Spiegelman, a beautiful and adventurous young girl convinces her next door neighbor, Quentin, to run around in the middle of the night performing various tasks for her. As the story evolves, so does the relationship between the two protagonists. This summer teen romance movie will swoon the hearts of all those willing to pay money to see it in theaters.
9. Spy, June 5th, Written and Directed by Paul Feig,
Not suitable for all audiences; just those with a sense of humor. Melissa McCarthy is at it again in yet another action movie. If you think she’s getting a bit typecast, you might be right. Regardless, this movie is sure to make you laugh. McCarthy, along with Miranda Hart, Allison Janney, and Jude Law, plays a CIA analyst who finally gets her chance to get out of the cubicle and into the shoes of a real agent. If you thought Bridesmaids or The Heat was funny, check out this movie with your friends for a 12 am movie run.
8. Pan, June 26th, Directed by Joe Wright, Written by Jason Fuchs
This movie shares with the audience the untold past of Peter Pan and Captain Hook, and how they became the characters we know of and love today. With excellent cinematography and CGI, Hugh Jackman, Amanda Seyfried, and Levi Miller surely won’t disappoint.
7. Inside Out, June 19th, Directed by Pete Docter, Produced by Pixar Animation Studios
There are two simultaneous stories going on during the movie- the story of a little girl named Riley and the adventures of personified emotions inside her brain. These include joy, sadness, and disgust, just to name a few. Each emotion is played by a different comedian. This kids movie is suitable for all audiences and is sure to make anyone laugh. The humor in this film is very much inline with the actors and comedians playing the lead roles: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling and so many more. This is the perfect summer movie for the whole family to enjoy.
6. The End of the Tour, July 6th, Directed by James Ponsoldt, Written by Donald Margulies
If you plan on seeing this movie, I highly suggest you either read up on David Foster Wallace or read his book, Infinite Jest (a book accredited with being “The defining work of the current generation”). This movie is not about the book Infinitive Jest, rather the last four days of the book tour. A writer and interview for Rolling Stone Magazine, David Lipsky (played by Jesse Eisenberg) interviewed Wallace (Jason Segel) and over the course of four days. The two become very close. Based on the book published by Lipsky in 2010, the film lends insight into the mind of the intellectual cult hero
5. Mr. Holmes, July 17th, Directed by Bill Condon, Screenplay by Bill Condon and Jeffrey Hatcher
If you’re sick and tired of the Sherlock Holmes world phenomena, get over it. Played by Sir Ian McKellen (The White Wizard in Lord of the Rings, and Magneto in X Men), Holmes is now a retired detective who struggles with his fading memory. We see the development of his life through flashbacks, putting the story together ourselves as the struggling Watson. With the help of a young boy named Roger, Holmes is able to solve his last mystery.
4. Southpaw, July 24th, Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Screenplay by Kurt Sutter and Richard Wenk
If you enjoyed watching any of the six Rocky movies, (remember Sylvester Stallone?) you’ll enjoy this movie. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a middleweight boxer who through a series of unfortunate events, and watches the world he struggled to put together, fall apart. And if you think this is a “boys’ movie,” just know that Rachel McAdams, the queen of rom-com, plays Gyllenhaal’s wife. Also, there are plenty of love scenes throughout the movie that may very well bring you to tears. Check this one out with your parents or friends if you find yourself in the mood for a movie filled with both struggle, challenges, a little bit of blood, and a lot of love.
3. Straight Outta Compton, August 14th, Directed by F. Gary Gray, Produced by Ice Cube and Dr. Dre
If you don’t already know, the title of this movie comes from the double platinum album created by the American hip-hop group N.W.A. This movie follows the rap group as they rose to fame through their controversial music and subsequent social uprising in Southwest LA. The movie portrays how life was like for these artists before and after their rise to fame. It also shows how police involvement affected the music of this international hip-hop group, a topic sure to be super charged in the summer following a year of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and Freddie Gray. If you’re interested in music history, struggles of minority groups in the U.S, or just want to see a great biographical drama, it’s time to take out your AMC Stubs card.
2. Trainwreck, July 17th, Directed by Judd Apatow, Written by Amy Schumer
This movie features Amy Schumer, Bill Hader, LeBron James, John Cena, and a barrage of other hilarious actors and comedians jumping out from every corner. This summer comedy flips socially assigned gender roles, as the main character (Amy Schumer) refuses to settle down and be in a monogamous relationship. She consistently sleeps around and sees nothing wrong with her current life trajectory. Unfortunately, Schumer’s world is flipped when she finds a guy who wants nothing more than to be in a relationship with her, something she is completely unaccustomed to. Watch this movie with your significant other or your girlfriends for a summer date night or girls night out.
1. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Produced by Jeremy Dawson and Dan Fogelman
This is a beautiful tragic movie filled with love, friendship, and the battle with overcoming fatal disease. Rachel has leukemia and as she battles cancer, two boys befriend her simply out of pity. From there, true friendships blossom and worlds collide as the friends struggle to find meaning from a terrible situation. If you think this movie sounds like The Fault in Our Stars, you’re wrong. But be warned; tissues will be necessary.